Comments on: Boondoggle http://www.transitmiami.com/2008/09/05/boondoggle/ Moving Together, Faster Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:07:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: JM Palacios http://www.transitmiami.com/2008/09/05/boondoggle/#comment-10540 JM Palacios Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:05:51 +0000 http://www.transitmiami.com/?p=2682#comment-10540 Good catch, Tony. I had thought of the same things about the other major projects. So they cost a lot, but the world would be a different place without them. I wonder how much the Pyramids overran their cost estimate? Or the Great Wall of China? Or the Roman roads? I just saw this <a href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hmohbjHf55igdfGFF3TEV7f55bLAD92VRPCO1" rel="nofollow">article</a> about more problems with the Big Dig. This time it's cracks in the concrete. But despite all its costs and problems, from everything I've heard it has vastly improved the downtown community. I certainly hope the Metrorail and the PTP can achieve the same status. Despite all the problems, if the Metrorail gets expanded properly, it will be a vast improvement. The key is to get to that point. I also found it interesting that they listed Sound Transit as a boondoggle, which a few weeks ago we also held up as an example for us to follow. See a Seattle blog's <a href="http://www.crosscut.com/politics-government/17204/Is+Sound+Transit+really+one+of+%27the+world%27s+biggest+boondoggles%27/" rel="nofollow">take</a> on their being called a boondoggle. It's rather similar to ours, and brings up the good point that this is just how projects are done these days. Contractors bid low and then try to make as much as they can along the way. I had a project go out earlier this year well under our estimate, but I'm sure the contractor will get more money as it goes along. Let's wait and see if the same thing unfolds with 595 or the Port of Miami Tunnel. I bet it will. Good catch, Tony. I had thought of the same things about the other major projects. So they cost a lot, but the world would be a different place without them. I wonder how much the Pyramids overran their cost estimate? Or the Great Wall of China? Or the Roman roads?

I just saw this article about more problems with the Big Dig. This time it’s cracks in the concrete. But despite all its costs and problems, from everything I’ve heard it has vastly improved the downtown community.

I certainly hope the Metrorail and the PTP can achieve the same status. Despite all the problems, if the Metrorail gets expanded properly, it will be a vast improvement. The key is to get to that point.

I also found it interesting that they listed Sound Transit as a boondoggle, which a few weeks ago we also held up as an example for us to follow. See a Seattle blog’s take on their being called a boondoggle. It’s rather similar to ours, and brings up the good point that this is just how projects are done these days. Contractors bid low and then try to make as much as they can along the way. I had a project go out earlier this year well under our estimate, but I’m sure the contractor will get more money as it goes along. Let’s wait and see if the same thing unfolds with 595 or the Port of Miami Tunnel. I bet it will.

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